Volume 57, Issue 11· November 2018 GIVING THANKS What a wonderful tradition our country has setting one day a year aside that focuses on gratitude. Thanksgiving is a day when family and friends gather around the table to feast on a meal. It gives us permission to pause as we reflect on the many blessings in life. However, as people of faith, every day is thanksgiving as we know God sends blessings to us daily. One of the Thanksgiving traditions in our family is to have each person share one thing they are thankful for in life before we say the meal prayer. My family still cherish a special memory of the last Thanksgiving meal shared with my father. My dad, a man of few words, spoke tenderly about the love he had for each of his family members, especially his wife, our mother. Tears were shared by all as he expressed love and gratitude. We did not know it would be our last Thanksgiving with our father, but we are grateful for the ritual and tradition. We often take family and friends for granted and may not express our appreciation for them. Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to say thanks to those people who are important to us. I continue to give God thanks for Bethlehem Lutheran as I have the privilege and honor to serve you as your interim pastor. The new Mission Forward Team is being formed and will begin the next steps to call a new pastor. Time was needed to build trust and discern the right process for Bethlehem. Thanks for your patience. I will be attending a training event for intentional interim Pastors at Luther Seminary prior to the time the Mission Forward Team’s Commissioning Service on November 11. The resources gleaned from this training will enhance the team’s work, benefiting the whole congregation. Every week, as we gather around the altar and share the Lord’s Supper, I look out into the congregation and give thanks for all of you. Thanks to the 30 plus members needed each week to assist with the worship service. Thanks for the 25 plus members who share their musical gifts and serve on the mission councils, thanks for those who host coffee fellowship. Thanks to the many teachers and mentors who teach our young people. Thanks to all of you who show up every Sunday and reflect God’s presence. Thanks to the many of you who have already submitted your Time and Talent Survey and Commitment Card and those who still plan to return them. What a gift it is to be part of a faith community that supports one another as we strive to faithfully follow Jesus in our homes, workplaces, and communities. What are you thankful for in life this Thanksgiving? CALL PROCESS UPDATE Thank you for all the nominations for the Mission Forward Team and Call Committee. The council is in the process of selecting the Mission Forward Team. This team will be commissioned at worship on Sunday, November 11. Once commissioned, they will begin their training and develop a plan for the coming months as they develop the Ministry Profile necessary for calling a new pastor. CALL PROCESS FORUM Each month during one of our coffee fellowship times, there will be a forum dedicated to the call process. The first forum will take place on Sunday, November 4. This coincides with the first new member class as we will reflect on the “Bethlehem’s Saints” who have gone before us. What are the stories that have shaped our ministry in the past? Future forums will focus on our current and future ministry.
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Volume 57, Issue 11· November 2018
GIVING THANKS
What a wonderful tradition our country has setting one day a year aside that focuses on gratitude. Thanksgiving is a
day when family and friends gather around the table to feast on a meal. It gives us permission to pause as we
reflect on the many blessings in life. However, as people of faith, every day is thanksgiving as we know God sends
blessings to us daily.
One of the Thanksgiving traditions in our family is to have each person share one thing they are thankful for in life
before we say the meal prayer. My family still cherish a special memory of the last Thanksgiving meal shared with
my father. My dad, a man of few words, spoke tenderly about the love he had for each of his family members,
especially his wife, our mother. Tears were shared by all as he expressed love and gratitude. We did not know it
would be our last Thanksgiving with our father, but we are grateful for the ritual and tradition. We often take family
and friends for granted and may not express our appreciation for them. Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to say
thanks to those people who are important to us.
I continue to give God thanks for Bethlehem Lutheran as I have the privilege and honor to serve you as your interim
pastor. The new Mission Forward Team is being formed and will begin the next steps to call a new pastor. Time was
needed to build trust and discern the right process for Bethlehem. Thanks for your patience. I will be attending a
training event for intentional interim Pastors at Luther Seminary prior to the time the Mission Forward Team’s
Commissioning Service on November 11. The resources gleaned from this training will enhance the team’s work,
benefiting the whole congregation.
Every week, as we gather around the altar and share the Lord’s Supper, I look out into the congregation and give
thanks for all of you. Thanks to the 30 plus members needed each week to assist with the worship service. Thanks for
the 25 plus members who share their musical gifts and serve on the mission councils, thanks for those who host
coffee fellowship. Thanks to the many teachers and mentors who teach our young people. Thanks to all of you
who show up every Sunday and reflect God’s presence. Thanks to the many of you who have already
submitted your Time and Talent Survey and Commitment Card and those who still
plan to return them. What a gift it is to be part of a faith community that supports one
another as we strive to faithfully follow Jesus in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
What are you thankful for in life this Thanksgiving?
CALL PROCESS UPDATE Thank you for all the nominations for the Mission Forward Team and Call Committee.
The council is in the process of selecting the Mission Forward Team. This team will be commissioned at worship
on Sunday, November 11. Once commissioned, they will begin their training and develop a plan for the
coming months as they develop the Ministry Profile necessary for calling a new pastor.
CALL PROCESS FORUM Each month during one of our coffee fellowship times, there will be a forum
dedicated to the call process. The first forum will take place on Sunday,
November 4. This coincides with the first new member class as we will
reflect on the “Bethlehem’s Saints” who have gone before us. What are
the stories that have shaped our ministry in the past? Future forums will
focus on our current and future ministry.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED November is
Bethlehem’s month to help the
residents of NewAldaya Lifescapes
each Sunday morning pushing
wheelchairs for residents to attend the
10:30am worship. Four or more people to help
each Sunday morning would be greatly
appreciated! If you are able to volunteer, plan to
arrive outside the Chaplain's office by 9:50am. A
sign-up sheet is available on the Welcome Table in
the Church Lobby. ??? Contact Marie Gregersen,
296-6875, or June Belz, 859-4258.
COUNCIL ON SERVICE CHRISTMAS PROJECT
The Council on Service will be doing their annual
Christmas project. Bethlehem will be adopting
several local families. Each child receives three
gifts and parents are given a gift card. Food
baskets are also prepared. Stars will be up in the
Fellowship Hall beginning November 19 and
directions will be posted. Gifts need to be
wrapped and returned by December 9.
If members would rather make a monetary
donation, make checks payable to Bethlehem
with “Christmas Project” clearly marked in the
memo. Thank you to all who help make this a
wonderful Christmas for many in our
community. ??? Contact Service Mission Council
members.
We will be decorating the
Sanctuary with poinsettia plants
again on Christmas Eve. If you
would like to donate one, there will
be a collection box with envelopes
on the Welcome Table November
11. The envelope will have a place to print your name
and a place to print the name, “in memory of” or “in
honor of”, for whom you are giving. The price for each
plant is $12 which includes a 7” pot with foil, ribbon,
saucer, tax, and delivery. Please make check payable
to Bethlehem with “poinsettias” in the memo line. The
last day to donate will be Sunday, December 2.
LET’S TALK TURKEY
The month of November is
Hospice and Pal l iat ive
Care month. Communities
throughout the country are
encouraging individuals and
families to have conversations
about a topic no one likes to
talk about: end-of-life and
funerals. Join Pastor Audrey following the November 11
potluck for a conversation and information session on
advance directives and funeral planning. To state your
own wishes for end-of-life and what you want for a
memorial or funeral service can be a wonderful gift
to share with your family and. Many, who have
participated in “Let’s Talk Turkey” conversations, have
shared these wishes at Thanksgiving when families
gather to give thanks for family, faith, and friends.